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The Echoes of Us
Robbie and Jenn are meant to be. They've finally reconciled after eight months spent apart and both know that, this time, it's forever.
But forever might not be as long as they think.
As a truck hurtles towards their car on their way home, Robbie is thrown back into Jenn's past and he finds himself spectator in the most important moments of her life: golden moments from her childhood and heart-breaking ones from her teenage years; her exhausting time at med school and just where she's been for the last eight months. But he may find more than he bargained for...
Can Robbie right the wrongs in their past? Can he get to the bottom of what drove Jenn away eight months ago? Most importantly, can he change their present in order to save their future?
'Spellbinding and unforgettable' HOLLY MILLER
'Heartfelt, romantic and compelling' PERNILLE HUGHES
'A glorious, epic love story' EMILY STONE
'Unputdownable, utterly romantic and gorgeous' JENNY COLGAN
'The Echoes of Us has just broken me . . . if you love The Time Traveler's Wife or One Day then you'll love this' EMMA COOPER
'This warm, wise and weep-inducing read will stay with you' Fabulous Magazine
'A time-travel mystery and an enduring romance . . . extremely enjoyable' Guardian
But forever might not be as long as they think.
As a truck hurtles towards their car on their way home, Robbie is thrown back into Jenn's past and he finds himself spectator in the most important moments of her life: golden moments from her childhood and heart-breaking ones from her teenage years; her exhausting time at med school and just where she's been for the last eight months. But he may find more than he bargained for...
Can Robbie right the wrongs in their past? Can he get to the bottom of what drove Jenn away eight months ago? Most importantly, can he change their present in order to save their future?
'Spellbinding and unforgettable' HOLLY MILLER
'Heartfelt, romantic and compelling' PERNILLE HUGHES
'A glorious, epic love story' EMILY STONE
'Unputdownable, utterly romantic and gorgeous' JENNY COLGAN
'The Echoes of Us has just broken me . . . if you love The Time Traveler's Wife or One Day then you'll love this' EMMA COOPER
'This warm, wise and weep-inducing read will stay with you' Fabulous Magazine
'A time-travel mystery and an enduring romance . . . extremely enjoyable' Guardian
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
67 people are currently reading
1210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
June 19, 2024
In a Nutshell: The blurb calls this “a captivating love story on an epic scale”, and to a certain extent, it is. But the ‘epic’ part of it takes time to get used to. Too jumpy and random for my liking. The ending saved my rating to a great extent, but I doubt that every reader will be as happy with how matters come to a close. This is an outlier review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
💖 The ending: The book truly grabbed my attention only in the final few chapters, and especially with the ending, which is beautifully written. The ending is what saved my rating.
💖 Many introspective moments: It is said that during moments of death, our entire life flashes before our eyes. But why is Robbie seeing Jenn’s life instead of his own? The book tells you this in an interesting way.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
💓 The “time travel’ in this story doesn’t follow the typical pattern. Robbie is thrown back at various moments of Emma’s past, but he is just the spectator and for the most part, can do nothing except watch. This means that the book functions more like a typical multi-timeline story instead of as a time-travel story. I get why this was done, but it didn’t help my interest level.
💓 There’s a secret that is dangled in front of us many times. When it finally comes out, it is definitely an unexpected revelation, and an interesting one too. But the way in which it comes out feels almost like an infodump.
Bookish Nays:
💔 So many timelines! There are jumps not just across years (1999, 2014, 2009, 2019,…) but also across time periods such as “two days later”, “five weeks later”, “two weeks before”,… I simply couldn’t keep track after a point. It might have been easier if the timeline were linear but the jumps are totally random, and often occur even within chapters. This might still work for those who go with the flow, but I am diligent about knowing and keeping track of where the story is, so it didn’t work for me.
💔 To add to the above, the narrative focus also jumps between Robbie’s first-person and Jenn’s third-person perspectives, sometimes within the same chapter, and at times, more than once within the same chapter. So we aren’t just changing across timelines but also across narrators and grammatical voices a multitude of times throughout the book. The flow hence feels very haphazard.
💔 The proceedings are slow and repetitive for most of the way. Things get interesting only from chapter 32 onwards. While I was invested in the initial few chapters, I soon got bored of watching Robbie watch Jenn and introspecting about what to do.
💔 Much of the plot seems to lay the blame for the relationship breakdown on Robbie’s shoulders. However, there is way too much miscommunication from Jenn’s side. Can a person be blamed for not knowing some things about his partner when his partner herself didn’t reveal anything? This book reminded me why I hate the miscommunication trope so much.
💔 The connection between the lead couple didn’t seem strong. This might partly be as they had broken up and just reunited, but even otherwise, each kept so many things from the other that I didn’t feel strongly about either of them, nor about their relationship.
💔 The above also means that both the main characters are almost like unreliable narrators, both towards each other and towards us the readers. We know a little about them and the people in their lives, and later, we learn facts that contradict the earlier revelations. Not a fan of this writing trope.
💔 I don’t know about other readers, but having a Jenn and a Jill in the same story was very confusing, especially as both are often in the scene together.
All in all, this might still work for readers who love introspective or mawkish romances. It is not for those who prefer happy-happy love stories as this is more on the emotional side. It is also not for those who enjoy time travel stories because that label isn’t completely accurate.
I do appreciate the creative idea of the premise, but the execution was very disjointed and dragged out. It might have worked better as a novella.
I think this is a debut work. And if yes, I must admire the scale of the author’s imagination and the intricacies of the plotlines. Though the tracks didn’t work for me, I admire how she knew where she wanted the story to go, and led us there, albeit in a roundabout way.
Mine is an outlier review, so please do read other reviews and take a call. But if you do want to give this romance novel a try, I’d advise against the audio version, if and when it comes out. Only the most focussed of audio listeners would be able to make sense of all that hopping across times and characters.
2 stars. (With 1 star being for the exceptional final 18-20% of the book. Everything else put together gets only 1 star.)
My thanks to Headline, Mountain Leopard Press, NetGalley and The Pigeonhole for the DRC of “The Echoes of Us”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Robbie and Jenn, who were together for five years but then separated since the last eight months, have finally reconciled. But just as Jenn is about to tell Robbie something on the way back home, a truck comes hurtling towards their car. Robbie is immediately thrown into Jenn’s past, where he watches her across various ages and situations, and thus learns more about her life than she had ever told him. But why is Robbie suddenly a spectator to Jenn’s past? Can he figure out what went wrong in their relationship eight months ago? Can he repair the damage and modify the present to give them a better, happier future?
The story comes to us from multiple timelines in Robbie’s first-person perspective and also in Jenn’s third person point of view.
Bookish Yays:
💖 The ending: The book truly grabbed my attention only in the final few chapters, and especially with the ending, which is beautifully written. The ending is what saved my rating.
💖 Many introspective moments: It is said that during moments of death, our entire life flashes before our eyes. But why is Robbie seeing Jenn’s life instead of his own? The book tells you this in an interesting way.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
💓 The “time travel’ in this story doesn’t follow the typical pattern. Robbie is thrown back at various moments of Emma’s past, but he is just the spectator and for the most part, can do nothing except watch. This means that the book functions more like a typical multi-timeline story instead of as a time-travel story. I get why this was done, but it didn’t help my interest level.
💓 There’s a secret that is dangled in front of us many times. When it finally comes out, it is definitely an unexpected revelation, and an interesting one too. But the way in which it comes out feels almost like an infodump.
Bookish Nays:
💔 So many timelines! There are jumps not just across years (1999, 2014, 2009, 2019,…) but also across time periods such as “two days later”, “five weeks later”, “two weeks before”,… I simply couldn’t keep track after a point. It might have been easier if the timeline were linear but the jumps are totally random, and often occur even within chapters. This might still work for those who go with the flow, but I am diligent about knowing and keeping track of where the story is, so it didn’t work for me.
💔 To add to the above, the narrative focus also jumps between Robbie’s first-person and Jenn’s third-person perspectives, sometimes within the same chapter, and at times, more than once within the same chapter. So we aren’t just changing across timelines but also across narrators and grammatical voices a multitude of times throughout the book. The flow hence feels very haphazard.
💔 The proceedings are slow and repetitive for most of the way. Things get interesting only from chapter 32 onwards. While I was invested in the initial few chapters, I soon got bored of watching Robbie watch Jenn and introspecting about what to do.
💔 Much of the plot seems to lay the blame for the relationship breakdown on Robbie’s shoulders. However, there is way too much miscommunication from Jenn’s side. Can a person be blamed for not knowing some things about his partner when his partner herself didn’t reveal anything? This book reminded me why I hate the miscommunication trope so much.
💔 The connection between the lead couple didn’t seem strong. This might partly be as they had broken up and just reunited, but even otherwise, each kept so many things from the other that I didn’t feel strongly about either of them, nor about their relationship.
💔 The above also means that both the main characters are almost like unreliable narrators, both towards each other and towards us the readers. We know a little about them and the people in their lives, and later, we learn facts that contradict the earlier revelations. Not a fan of this writing trope.
💔 I don’t know about other readers, but having a Jenn and a Jill in the same story was very confusing, especially as both are often in the scene together.
All in all, this might still work for readers who love introspective or mawkish romances. It is not for those who prefer happy-happy love stories as this is more on the emotional side. It is also not for those who enjoy time travel stories because that label isn’t completely accurate.
I do appreciate the creative idea of the premise, but the execution was very disjointed and dragged out. It might have worked better as a novella.
I think this is a debut work. And if yes, I must admire the scale of the author’s imagination and the intricacies of the plotlines. Though the tracks didn’t work for me, I admire how she knew where she wanted the story to go, and led us there, albeit in a roundabout way.
Mine is an outlier review, so please do read other reviews and take a call. But if you do want to give this romance novel a try, I’d advise against the audio version, if and when it comes out. Only the most focussed of audio listeners would be able to make sense of all that hopping across times and characters.
2 stars. (With 1 star being for the exceptional final 18-20% of the book. Everything else put together gets only 1 star.)
My thanks to Headline, Mountain Leopard Press, NetGalley and The Pigeonhole for the DRC of “The Echoes of Us”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
December 5, 2024
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚♡ — 𝖠𝖱𝖢 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐
3.5 ★
𖤐 𓈒࣪ ᭡ ˖ 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝗊𝗎𝖾𝖾𝗓𝖾𝗌. 𝖲𝗁𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗂𝗍.
𝖠𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝖾.
𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌.
𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾
꒰ ⊹ ˚ . The plot 𖧧 ७
୨♡୧ ִ° ⋆ ʚɞ ꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱
As they are about to have an accident, Robbie finds himself immersed in what appears to be Jenn's memories.
Just like him, we don't really understand what's going on since one moment we find Jenn during her life, then the next moment we find her when she had just met Robbie.
So we alternate between past and (more or less) present. And we try to understand what's going on, how it is that Robbie can see Jenn's past. And the further we go, the more interesting it becomes. Robbie must discover a secret.
꒰ ⊹ ˚ . My thoughts 𖧧 ७
୨♡୧ ִ° ⋆ ʚɞ ꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱
I'm unwell. I deserved a happy ending.
Robbie and Jenn deserved a happy ending. And like a fool, until the last page, i was hoping that i'll read a happy reading. But i knew. And even if i knew i needed to believe there was a happy ending.
𝖨 𝖼𝖺𝗇'𝗍 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝗈 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀.
𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗌.
𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗆 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗂𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝗎𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖻𝗂𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗌.
𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝖺 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖼𝗄, 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝖺 𝖻𝗎𝗌 - 𝖨'𝗆 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾.
𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗎𝗌.
𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗁𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍 𝗍𝗈𝗈.
I'm so sad right now, the ending changed everything for me. I was hoping to read a beautiful love story with a beautiful happy ending. And here i am, heartbroken.
It was unexpected, but in the end i liked this reading. Thanks to the end. Yeah, i know, i'm complaining about this sad ending, but it was so beautiful ? Beautifully sad. And i think i have a thing with this sort of ending. A sort of love/hate thing.
Robbie was a dick, but he deserved a chance to make it up for it. To make Jenn happy like she deserved.
Regarding the secret, I didn't really expect that. I was expecting something more? even if in the end it was "a good secret"
No matter what I say about what I didn't like. I liked this book. I wouldn't say it was a favorite, but I enjoyed reading it.
I really enjoyed learning about Jenn and Robbie's story.
꒰ ⊹ ˚ . What i liked 𖧧 ७
୨♡୧ ִ° ⋆ ʚɞ ꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱
I loved Robbie and Jenn's relationship. They were everything. It was great to discover the past of Jenn, to navigate trough her past.
𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾'𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗒 𝗈𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾𝖽𝗒 𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗈𝗋 𝗈𝖻𝗌𝖼𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝗂𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖱𝗈𝖻𝖻𝗂𝖾'𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗉𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝖾; 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗍, 𝗒𝖾𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝗆𝖾𝗌𝗌𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗁𝖾'𝗅𝗅 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄 - 𝖨 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖳𝖺𝖻𝖺𝗌𝖼𝗈 𝗌𝖺𝗎𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝖾𝗀𝗀𝗌, 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝖺𝗒, 𝗈𝗋 𝖨 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖳𝗈𝗉 𝖦𝗎𝗇 𝗈𝗇 𝖺 𝗁𝗎𝗇𝗀𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖲𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖺𝗒, 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝖺𝗒.
I enjoyed reading this book even more around the 50/60% mark of the book. I was captivated and needed to know what Jenn's secret was. I loved even more seeing Robbie realize he acted like shit towards Jenn.
I liked seeing him try everything to find Jenn in order to change the predent and love her as she deserved it.
The ending is definitely what made me love this book. I find that it is in these last pages that there were the most emotions. It was super touching. My heart really hurts just thinking about it.
꒰ ⊹ ˚ . What i disliked 𖧧 ७
୨♡୧ ִ° ⋆ ʚɞ ꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱
There's not some particular things that i disliked. It's just that a moment i was "bored". I was losing interest even if the story was interesting. Like, i liked the concept and all but i lost interest.
It was long, maybe too long for me. It felt like nothing was moving on at a point. I had trouble getting back to reading for a while.
+ I read with the same emotion until the ending changed everything. No sentence really struck me except those I put above. It's a bit of a shame, but after all it only concerns me.
PS : The cover is so pretty.
3.5 ★
𖤐 𓈒࣪ ᭡ ˖ 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝗊𝗎𝖾𝖾𝗓𝖾𝗌. 𝖲𝗁𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗂𝗍.
𝖠𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝖾.
𝖧𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌.
𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾
꒰ ⊹ ˚ . The plot 𖧧 ७
୨♡୧ ִ° ⋆ ʚɞ ꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱
As they are about to have an accident, Robbie finds himself immersed in what appears to be Jenn's memories.
Just like him, we don't really understand what's going on since one moment we find Jenn during her life, then the next moment we find her when she had just met Robbie.
So we alternate between past and (more or less) present. And we try to understand what's going on, how it is that Robbie can see Jenn's past. And the further we go, the more interesting it becomes. Robbie must discover a secret.
꒰ ⊹ ˚ . My thoughts 𖧧 ७
୨♡୧ ִ° ⋆ ʚɞ ꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱
I'm unwell. I deserved a happy ending.
Robbie and Jenn deserved a happy ending. And like a fool, until the last page, i was hoping that i'll read a happy reading. But i knew. And even if i knew i needed to believe there was a happy ending.
𝖨 𝖼𝖺𝗇'𝗍 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝗈 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀.
𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗌.
𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗆 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗂𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝗎𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖻𝗂𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗌.
𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝖺 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖼𝗄, 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝖺 𝖻𝗎𝗌 - 𝖨'𝗆 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾.
𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗎𝗌.
𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗁𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍 𝗍𝗈𝗈.
I'm so sad right now, the ending changed everything for me. I was hoping to read a beautiful love story with a beautiful happy ending. And here i am, heartbroken.
It was unexpected, but in the end i liked this reading. Thanks to the end. Yeah, i know, i'm complaining about this sad ending, but it was so beautiful ? Beautifully sad. And i think i have a thing with this sort of ending. A sort of love/hate thing.
Robbie was a dick, but he deserved a chance to make it up for it. To make Jenn happy like she deserved.
Regarding the secret, I didn't really expect that. I was expecting something more? even if in the end it was "a good secret"
No matter what I say about what I didn't like. I liked this book. I wouldn't say it was a favorite, but I enjoyed reading it.
I really enjoyed learning about Jenn and Robbie's story.
꒰ ⊹ ˚ . What i liked 𖧧 ७
୨♡୧ ִ° ⋆ ʚɞ ꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱
I loved Robbie and Jenn's relationship. They were everything. It was great to discover the past of Jenn, to navigate trough her past.
𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾'𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗒 𝗈𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾𝖽𝗒 𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗈𝗋 𝗈𝖻𝗌𝖼𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝗂𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖱𝗈𝖻𝖻𝗂𝖾'𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗉𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝖾; 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗍, 𝗒𝖾𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝗆𝖾𝗌𝗌𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗁𝖾'𝗅𝗅 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄 - 𝖨 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖳𝖺𝖻𝖺𝗌𝖼𝗈 𝗌𝖺𝗎𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝖾𝗀𝗀𝗌, 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝖺𝗒, 𝗈𝗋 𝖨 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖳𝗈𝗉 𝖦𝗎𝗇 𝗈𝗇 𝖺 𝗁𝗎𝗇𝗀𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖲𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖺𝗒, 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝖺𝗒.
I enjoyed reading this book even more around the 50/60% mark of the book. I was captivated and needed to know what Jenn's secret was. I loved even more seeing Robbie realize he acted like shit towards Jenn.
I liked seeing him try everything to find Jenn in order to change the predent and love her as she deserved it.
The ending is definitely what made me love this book. I find that it is in these last pages that there were the most emotions. It was super touching. My heart really hurts just thinking about it.
꒰ ⊹ ˚ . What i disliked 𖧧 ७
୨♡୧ ִ° ⋆ ʚɞ ꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱
There's not some particular things that i disliked. It's just that a moment i was "bored". I was losing interest even if the story was interesting. Like, i liked the concept and all but i lost interest.
It was long, maybe too long for me. It felt like nothing was moving on at a point. I had trouble getting back to reading for a while.
+ I read with the same emotion until the ending changed everything. No sentence really struck me except those I put above. It's a bit of a shame, but after all it only concerns me.
PS : The cover is so pretty.
June 21, 2024
I was drawn to this book by the premise which seemed very interesting but the execution left me wanting. Even the ending which was beautifully written didn't really save the book for me because it isn't typically my favourite kind of conclusion especially for this genre.
Jenn and Robbie have been together for 5 years when she suddenly leaves him without a word. When she comes back after 8 months away, they reconnect and in the car going home, she is about to tell him something when he realises they are going to crash headlong into an oncoming truck. Suddenly Robbie sees life flash by, but not his, Jenny's. He realises that there is something in the past that he has to get to know in order to stop the crash but can he do it in time?
What was intriguing was Robbie being able to see Jenn's memories from when she was a kid just as both of their lives were in mortal danger. Right from her childhood he sees events that shaped her and troubled her as well. However this time shift along with perspective shift from Jenn to Robbie in the past was very jerky and confusing in places. Also, very very drawn out.
We know there is a secret that needs to be revealed to Robbie if he is save them both from disaster but it is alluded to so often with no further clues that it became tiresome. I confess that I wanted to skip to the end to see what it was many times! This meant the final reveal didn't have as much of an impact because the anticipation had become impatience by then!
I also didn't see many things the way the characters did for the most part so felt irritation and anger long after they felt understanding. I think matters were simply too one sided at times and became hopeless to resolve.
Jenn and Robbie did not feel like the fated couple they were portrayed as. It may be my personal thinking but I did not feel they were great together. It didn't help that no one ever seemed to finish saying what they wanted to before we were taken to some other place and memory.
I don't read romance often and the element of 'time travel' was what appealed to me more but that didn't turn out the way it promised. Even the ending which seems to be a favourite among readers was not really to my taste.
The pace of the book really improved in the final part and the writing was great too there so I felt that a more crisp storyline would have helped the entire book!
In short, this was not for me but might appeal to regular readers of romance who like the many elements of the genre that are focused on in this book.
I read this via the Pigeonhole app and these are my honest thoughts about the book.
Jenn and Robbie have been together for 5 years when she suddenly leaves him without a word. When she comes back after 8 months away, they reconnect and in the car going home, she is about to tell him something when he realises they are going to crash headlong into an oncoming truck. Suddenly Robbie sees life flash by, but not his, Jenny's. He realises that there is something in the past that he has to get to know in order to stop the crash but can he do it in time?
What was intriguing was Robbie being able to see Jenn's memories from when she was a kid just as both of their lives were in mortal danger. Right from her childhood he sees events that shaped her and troubled her as well. However this time shift along with perspective shift from Jenn to Robbie in the past was very jerky and confusing in places. Also, very very drawn out.
We know there is a secret that needs to be revealed to Robbie if he is save them both from disaster but it is alluded to so often with no further clues that it became tiresome. I confess that I wanted to skip to the end to see what it was many times! This meant the final reveal didn't have as much of an impact because the anticipation had become impatience by then!
I also didn't see many things the way the characters did for the most part so felt irritation and anger long after they felt understanding. I think matters were simply too one sided at times and became hopeless to resolve.
Jenn and Robbie did not feel like the fated couple they were portrayed as. It may be my personal thinking but I did not feel they were great together. It didn't help that no one ever seemed to finish saying what they wanted to before we were taken to some other place and memory.
I don't read romance often and the element of 'time travel' was what appealed to me more but that didn't turn out the way it promised. Even the ending which seems to be a favourite among readers was not really to my taste.
The pace of the book really improved in the final part and the writing was great too there so I felt that a more crisp storyline would have helped the entire book!
In short, this was not for me but might appeal to regular readers of romance who like the many elements of the genre that are focused on in this book.
I read this via the Pigeonhole app and these are my honest thoughts about the book.
February 11, 2025
Czasami można po prostu ze sobą porozmawiać…
June 17, 2025
June bookclub read
‘At twenty-eight it’s like they’re on a bizarre cusp: not quite adults, no longer kids. Somewhere in between.’
‘At twenty-eight it’s like they’re on a bizarre cusp: not quite adults, no longer kids. Somewhere in between.’
June 20, 2025
4⭐️
I struggled with this initially, jumping around the timeline and switching POVs. But by about 1/3 of the way through I started to get into it, and really enjoyed it, exploring the beauty, complexities and heartbreak in relationships.
I struggled with this initially, jumping around the timeline and switching POVs. But by about 1/3 of the way through I started to get into it, and really enjoyed it, exploring the beauty, complexities and heartbreak in relationships.
July 14, 2025
I’ve got SUCH a sore head with how much I’ve just cried at the ending of this book and think I actually need to go to my bed..
April 26, 2023
Bewertung: 3 1/2 Sterne
Nach dem Beenden dieses Romans bin ich noch immer etwas unentschlossen, wie ich diese Geschichte bewerten soll. Der Aufbau ist ungewöhnlich und der Plot wirklich interessant. So ganz konnte mich der Roman jedoch nicht überzeugen...
Edingburgh 2019. Als Robbie und Jen sich nach einer längeren Pause in ihrer Beziehung wieder näherkommen, rast ein LKW auf ihr Auto zu. Die Sekunden bevor dies passiert, erlebt der Leser auf den ersten Seiten mit und hat mich bei der Leseprobe sofort gefesselt. Im Hinterkopf hatte ich den Film "Die Dinge des Lebens" mit Romy Schneider und Michel Piccoli.
Doch diese Geschichte ist anders, auch wenn wir ebenfalls auf die Vergangenheit der beiden Figuren zurückblicken. Als der LKW auf das Auto zurast, steht die Zeit sill. Robbie reist in dieser Zeitspanne durch Jenns Erinnerungen. Diese Rückblicke verlaufen jedoch nicht zeitlich linear. Vorallem zu Beginn hatte ich deswegen Schwierigkeiten in den Roman zu finden. Die Rückblicke sind bunt durcheinander gewürfelt. Sie erzählen einmal von Jennys Kindheit und dann von Robbie und ihrer Beziehung kurz vor der Trennung. Man wechselt immer wieder zwischen den Zeiten und den Figuren.
Der Schreibstil von Emma Steele lässt sich sehr gut lesen und nachdem man sich an die Zeitsprünge gewöhnt hat, habe ich sehr gut in die Handlung gefunden. Etwas befremdlich fand ich hingegen, dass beide Protagonisten auf das Leben von Jenn zurückblicken. Robbie ist dabei Zuschauer. Er sieht sich selbst und blickt auf ihre Beziehung und auf das Leben davor zurück. Dabei spürt er auch Jenns Gefühle und erkennt, dass er einiges falsch gemacht hat. Mit der Zeit hat Robbie das Gefühl, dass er den Unfall abwenden kann, wenn er herausfindet, was Jenn ihm kurz vor dem Zusammenstoß sagen wollte. Wird er das Geheimnis herausfinden?
Nach und nach gewöhnt man sich an die Zeitsprünge und lernt die beiden Charaktere immer besser kennen. Jenn ist eine symathische junge Frau, die keine einfache Kindheit hatte. Sie ist ehrgeizig und hat Ziele im Leben. Ihr Wunsch Ärztin zu werden, steht an erster Stelle. Robbie ist hingegen das komplette Gegenteil. Er liebt es Party zu machen und seinen Job als Koch. Doch die beiden ziehen sich an, wie das Licht die Motten.
Robbies Sicht von außen auf sich und Jenn zeigt ihm auch, wie unsensibel er war und wie die beiden sich vor der Trennung schon ziemlich voneinander entfernt haben. Ich war neugierig, wie sie zueinander gefunden haben und wieso sich Jenn schließlich getrennt hat. Kann Robbie herausfinden, was vor acht Monaten passiert ist? Und wenn er es weiß, kann er verhindern, was gleich geschehen wird?
Ich mag Geschichten, die ein bisschen Zeitreise beinhalten oder das "Was wäre wenn" Attribut haben. "Die Sekunde zwischen dir und mir" ist eine Mischung aus beiden Elementen und deshalb schwer einzuordnen. Ich war vorallem auch gespannt, wie die Autorin die Geschichte auflösen wird. Leider gibt es einige offene Inhaltsfragen, aber das Ende ist aufgelöst.
Fazit:
Ein außergewöhnlicher Roman mit einem tollen Thema, das mich neugierig gemacht hat. Es ist ein emotionales und tiefgründiges Buch und alles andere als kitschig. Ich mochte es sehr, dass man hier eine Geschichte abseits des aktuellen Buchmarktes bekommt. Trotzdem konnte mich "Die Geschichte zwischen dir und mir" nicht völlig überzeugen.
Nach dem Beenden dieses Romans bin ich noch immer etwas unentschlossen, wie ich diese Geschichte bewerten soll. Der Aufbau ist ungewöhnlich und der Plot wirklich interessant. So ganz konnte mich der Roman jedoch nicht überzeugen...
Edingburgh 2019. Als Robbie und Jen sich nach einer längeren Pause in ihrer Beziehung wieder näherkommen, rast ein LKW auf ihr Auto zu. Die Sekunden bevor dies passiert, erlebt der Leser auf den ersten Seiten mit und hat mich bei der Leseprobe sofort gefesselt. Im Hinterkopf hatte ich den Film "Die Dinge des Lebens" mit Romy Schneider und Michel Piccoli.
Doch diese Geschichte ist anders, auch wenn wir ebenfalls auf die Vergangenheit der beiden Figuren zurückblicken. Als der LKW auf das Auto zurast, steht die Zeit sill. Robbie reist in dieser Zeitspanne durch Jenns Erinnerungen. Diese Rückblicke verlaufen jedoch nicht zeitlich linear. Vorallem zu Beginn hatte ich deswegen Schwierigkeiten in den Roman zu finden. Die Rückblicke sind bunt durcheinander gewürfelt. Sie erzählen einmal von Jennys Kindheit und dann von Robbie und ihrer Beziehung kurz vor der Trennung. Man wechselt immer wieder zwischen den Zeiten und den Figuren.
Der Schreibstil von Emma Steele lässt sich sehr gut lesen und nachdem man sich an die Zeitsprünge gewöhnt hat, habe ich sehr gut in die Handlung gefunden. Etwas befremdlich fand ich hingegen, dass beide Protagonisten auf das Leben von Jenn zurückblicken. Robbie ist dabei Zuschauer. Er sieht sich selbst und blickt auf ihre Beziehung und auf das Leben davor zurück. Dabei spürt er auch Jenns Gefühle und erkennt, dass er einiges falsch gemacht hat. Mit der Zeit hat Robbie das Gefühl, dass er den Unfall abwenden kann, wenn er herausfindet, was Jenn ihm kurz vor dem Zusammenstoß sagen wollte. Wird er das Geheimnis herausfinden?
Nach und nach gewöhnt man sich an die Zeitsprünge und lernt die beiden Charaktere immer besser kennen. Jenn ist eine symathische junge Frau, die keine einfache Kindheit hatte. Sie ist ehrgeizig und hat Ziele im Leben. Ihr Wunsch Ärztin zu werden, steht an erster Stelle. Robbie ist hingegen das komplette Gegenteil. Er liebt es Party zu machen und seinen Job als Koch. Doch die beiden ziehen sich an, wie das Licht die Motten.
Robbies Sicht von außen auf sich und Jenn zeigt ihm auch, wie unsensibel er war und wie die beiden sich vor der Trennung schon ziemlich voneinander entfernt haben. Ich war neugierig, wie sie zueinander gefunden haben und wieso sich Jenn schließlich getrennt hat. Kann Robbie herausfinden, was vor acht Monaten passiert ist? Und wenn er es weiß, kann er verhindern, was gleich geschehen wird?
Ich mag Geschichten, die ein bisschen Zeitreise beinhalten oder das "Was wäre wenn" Attribut haben. "Die Sekunde zwischen dir und mir" ist eine Mischung aus beiden Elementen und deshalb schwer einzuordnen. Ich war vorallem auch gespannt, wie die Autorin die Geschichte auflösen wird. Leider gibt es einige offene Inhaltsfragen, aber das Ende ist aufgelöst.
Fazit:
Ein außergewöhnlicher Roman mit einem tollen Thema, das mich neugierig gemacht hat. Es ist ein emotionales und tiefgründiges Buch und alles andere als kitschig. Ich mochte es sehr, dass man hier eine Geschichte abseits des aktuellen Buchmarktes bekommt. Trotzdem konnte mich "Die Geschichte zwischen dir und mir" nicht völlig überzeugen.
June 6, 2024
REVIEW
cw: trauma, parental abandonment, death, mentions of DV and alcoholism, depression
Robbie and Jenn are meant to be together. After eight months apart, they've reconciled their five year relationship. But just as they're close to home, a head-on collision has other plans. Suddenly Robbie finds himself thrown back into Jenn's past, watching moments from her memories.
Wow. This was such a powerful book, with a concept unlike any I've read before. There was very little preamble. We start the book as the RTA is just about to happen, and then the memories begin, slowly revealing Robbie and Jenn's history, as well as Jenn's childhood, both from Robbie's POV as an observer to her memories, and through Jenn's own POV.
These were two people who couldn't have been more different. They were both heartbreakingly, humanly flawed in their own ways, their love story beautiful and poignant in equal measure. I thought Jenn's difficult teenage years were so well-observed, and laid the foundations for the serious, responsible person she became. But I loved how fun-loving (and yes, sometimes irresponsible) Robbie was able to spark some joy into her life. The way my emotions went from wanting to hug Robbie one moment, then wanting to slap him, and back again, was a testament to the author's skills at writing such a complex, flawed, but ultimately lovable and charasmatic character. I loved the development of his character as the story progressed and the 'faraways' were so well-incorporated, and beautifully poignant.
There were some wonderful supporting characters. I loved Hilary and Chris. Duncan was such a good man and I really felt for him. I also loved Robbie's family. But, the ways this book made me cry. My goodness! I lost count of how many tissues I went through. The entire third act had me crying, wiping away the tears, and crying again. I completely lost it over chapter forty-two. Seriously. This was the first book I've read since I read The Red Wedding in ASOIAF that I would have put in the freezer had it not been an eARC (obscure 'Friends' reference there but if you know, you know). I consider that one of my highest compliments, and I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
Heartbreakingly beautiful.
Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating:. 5
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Echoes of Us is published today in the UK*
(Stock up on tissues and fluids. You'll need to hydrate after this book)
Favourite Quotes:
She made me want to think about the future because, for the first time in my life, someone really believed in that future. Believed in me.
...she feels him somehow, here in this place beside her, as though the steps he took before her all those years ago are still in the soil. As though he’s standing right beside her.
I never really thought about it before, how brief life is. How it can be there one moment, and gone the next. Just like that.
Unless you ask the people you love questions when you have the chance, the information goes – just like that.
It’s odd watching myself from only yesterday. I look exactly the same, but I feel so different to this guy sitting in front of me. It’s amazing how much can change in the blink of an eye.
...it’s not about the length of time we get on this planet – it’s about what we do while we’re here.
She’s always tried and tried and tried to please everyone else.
And she needs to stop.
She needs to love herself.
cw: trauma, parental abandonment, death, mentions of DV and alcoholism, depression
Robbie and Jenn are meant to be together. After eight months apart, they've reconciled their five year relationship. But just as they're close to home, a head-on collision has other plans. Suddenly Robbie finds himself thrown back into Jenn's past, watching moments from her memories.
Wow. This was such a powerful book, with a concept unlike any I've read before. There was very little preamble. We start the book as the RTA is just about to happen, and then the memories begin, slowly revealing Robbie and Jenn's history, as well as Jenn's childhood, both from Robbie's POV as an observer to her memories, and through Jenn's own POV.
These were two people who couldn't have been more different. They were both heartbreakingly, humanly flawed in their own ways, their love story beautiful and poignant in equal measure. I thought Jenn's difficult teenage years were so well-observed, and laid the foundations for the serious, responsible person she became. But I loved how fun-loving (and yes, sometimes irresponsible) Robbie was able to spark some joy into her life. The way my emotions went from wanting to hug Robbie one moment, then wanting to slap him, and back again, was a testament to the author's skills at writing such a complex, flawed, but ultimately lovable and charasmatic character. I loved the development of his character as the story progressed and the 'faraways' were so well-incorporated, and beautifully poignant.
There were some wonderful supporting characters. I loved Hilary and Chris. Duncan was such a good man and I really felt for him. I also loved Robbie's family. But, the ways this book made me cry. My goodness! I lost count of how many tissues I went through. The entire third act had me crying, wiping away the tears, and crying again. I completely lost it over chapter forty-two. Seriously. This was the first book I've read since I read The Red Wedding in ASOIAF that I would have put in the freezer had it not been an eARC (obscure 'Friends' reference there but if you know, you know). I consider that one of my highest compliments, and I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
Heartbreakingly beautiful.
Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating:. 5
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Echoes of Us is published today in the UK*
(Stock up on tissues and fluids. You'll need to hydrate after this book)
Favourite Quotes:
She made me want to think about the future because, for the first time in my life, someone really believed in that future. Believed in me.
...she feels him somehow, here in this place beside her, as though the steps he took before her all those years ago are still in the soil. As though he’s standing right beside her.
I never really thought about it before, how brief life is. How it can be there one moment, and gone the next. Just like that.
Unless you ask the people you love questions when you have the chance, the information goes – just like that.
It’s odd watching myself from only yesterday. I look exactly the same, but I feel so different to this guy sitting in front of me. It’s amazing how much can change in the blink of an eye.
...it’s not about the length of time we get on this planet – it’s about what we do while we’re here.
She’s always tried and tried and tried to please everyone else.
And she needs to stop.
She needs to love herself.
July 7, 2024
Jennie had a difficult childhood with a mother who could barely look after herself, never mind a daughter, and a father she was always led to believe didn't want anything to do with her. Growing up, Jennie worked two jobs to pay the bills so her mother could do her art and as she grows into adulthood, she builds walls around herself and shuts her emotions off from those close to her. Because of this, her boyfriend, Robbie, never really knew much about Jennie's past.
They were good together for a while, but then things started to go wrong, Jennie ended their relationship and disappeared for 8 months. Robbie never really understood why she ran away. They finally reunite at a wedding, rekindle their romance and eventually get into a car together which is about to lead to a devastating end.
Now, imagine you're hurtling towards death with the love of your life next to you, except that you were a bit too self-centred to ever realise that that person was the love your life until you were hurtling towards death. In the moments before they are about to be by hit by a lorry, Robbie returns to significant moments in Jennie's life that make him realise what a shit he's been. But can he rectify it before it's too late?
I saw this book billed as One Day meets The Time Traveller's Wife, and I think that description fits it perfectly. It's really difficult to say much more because it would mean giving away what happens. Let's just say that this book was plodding along nice and pleasantly, and then all of a sudden there was a revelation that made it into a different book entirely.
As someone who very much believes in living life to the fullest, this book got me totally in the feels!! :)
They were good together for a while, but then things started to go wrong, Jennie ended their relationship and disappeared for 8 months. Robbie never really understood why she ran away. They finally reunite at a wedding, rekindle their romance and eventually get into a car together which is about to lead to a devastating end.
Now, imagine you're hurtling towards death with the love of your life next to you, except that you were a bit too self-centred to ever realise that that person was the love your life until you were hurtling towards death. In the moments before they are about to be by hit by a lorry, Robbie returns to significant moments in Jennie's life that make him realise what a shit he's been. But can he rectify it before it's too late?
I saw this book billed as One Day meets The Time Traveller's Wife, and I think that description fits it perfectly. It's really difficult to say much more because it would mean giving away what happens. Let's just say that this book was plodding along nice and pleasantly, and then all of a sudden there was a revelation that made it into a different book entirely.
As someone who very much believes in living life to the fullest, this book got me totally in the feels!! :)
February 18, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
As Robbie and Jenn drive home one night, the impending collision with a truck causes life to flash before Jenn’s eyes and for Robbie to be a spectator of her memories.
Told in dual POV the novel examines fallibility of human memory, the secrets we keep to ourselves and above all the terrifying prospect of trusting someone completely. Chapters told from Jenn’s perspective were heartbreaking as we follow her journey through sometimes fragmented, sometimes blurry memories. Robbie’s chapters however, were repetitive to say the least. His inner monologue sounded like a broken record that got a bit boring after a while. There is an element of mystery that keeps you reading as we try to figure out what Jenn’s secret was. What I enjoyed most was the somewhat cyclical structure of her memories - that in a way start and end with their meeting, giving such a gut punching force to that last chapter.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.
As Robbie and Jenn drive home one night, the impending collision with a truck causes life to flash before Jenn’s eyes and for Robbie to be a spectator of her memories.
Told in dual POV the novel examines fallibility of human memory, the secrets we keep to ourselves and above all the terrifying prospect of trusting someone completely. Chapters told from Jenn’s perspective were heartbreaking as we follow her journey through sometimes fragmented, sometimes blurry memories. Robbie’s chapters however, were repetitive to say the least. His inner monologue sounded like a broken record that got a bit boring after a while. There is an element of mystery that keeps you reading as we try to figure out what Jenn’s secret was. What I enjoyed most was the somewhat cyclical structure of her memories - that in a way start and end with their meeting, giving such a gut punching force to that last chapter.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.
June 2, 2024
Well, that was a gut punch of a love story! Echoes of Us shows us the story of Jenn and Robbie through Jenn’s memories as her life flashes before her eyes, as a truck hurtles towards their car. Robbie is also a spectator of her memories, and we see her memories from both Jenn’s and his POV.
Robbie is hard to like in certain moments of the book, and his internal monologue got quite repetitive. Safe to say, he redeems himself. It really gets into the suspense throughout the second half of the book, when Robbie is trying to discover a secret that Jenn started to tell him in the car. The build up towards those last few pages was excellent, I couldn’t read it quickly enough!
A really unique read with an emotional build up, resulting in a bittersweet ending. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Robbie is hard to like in certain moments of the book, and his internal monologue got quite repetitive. Safe to say, he redeems himself. It really gets into the suspense throughout the second half of the book, when Robbie is trying to discover a secret that Jenn started to tell him in the car. The build up towards those last few pages was excellent, I couldn’t read it quickly enough!
A really unique read with an emotional build up, resulting in a bittersweet ending. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
June 13, 2024
Oh my heart just shattered 💔
Okay so the time jumps and pov switches are initially a little confusing but after a few I got used to it and actually really enjoyed the time hopping and seeing the memories and Robbie and Jenns journey.
Oh they were just made for each other. I just wished they knew it sooner. 😪 I adored both Robbie and Jenn as characters, I felt they were super relatable, in their personalities and how they made mistakes etc.
I've never read anything with a shared death experience and I gotta say I found it super intriguing.
As much as I always wish for a happy ending some books just don't need them and the impact this book has had on me just wow. Appreciate the little things and live everyday to the max!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay so the time jumps and pov switches are initially a little confusing but after a few I got used to it and actually really enjoyed the time hopping and seeing the memories and Robbie and Jenns journey.
Oh they were just made for each other. I just wished they knew it sooner. 😪 I adored both Robbie and Jenn as characters, I felt they were super relatable, in their personalities and how they made mistakes etc.
I've never read anything with a shared death experience and I gotta say I found it super intriguing.
As much as I always wish for a happy ending some books just don't need them and the impact this book has had on me just wow. Appreciate the little things and live everyday to the max!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2024
“Robbie and Jenn are meant to be. They've finally reconciled after eight months spent apart and both know that, this time, it's forever.
But forever might not be as long as they think.
As a truck hurtles towards their car on their way home, Robbie is thrown back into Jenn's past and he finds himself spectator in the most important moments of her life: golden moments from her childhood and heart-breaking ones from her teenage years; her exhausting time at med school and just where she's been for the last eight months. But he may find more than he bargained for...
Can Robbie right the wrongs in their past? Can he get to the bottom of what drove Jenn away eight months ago? Most importantly, can he change their present in order to save their future?”
I read this book on the Pigeonhole app, one stave per day over 10 days, commenting along with other readers. This is an unusual book as it is told through memories as part of a ‘shared death experience’. It certainly got me thinking. The story is beautifully told through past events and it is captivating and emotional. It made me think about how we look back at events and experiences and think ‘what if…’ and ‘if only’. I really enjoyed it!
But forever might not be as long as they think.
As a truck hurtles towards their car on their way home, Robbie is thrown back into Jenn's past and he finds himself spectator in the most important moments of her life: golden moments from her childhood and heart-breaking ones from her teenage years; her exhausting time at med school and just where she's been for the last eight months. But he may find more than he bargained for...
Can Robbie right the wrongs in their past? Can he get to the bottom of what drove Jenn away eight months ago? Most importantly, can he change their present in order to save their future?”
I read this book on the Pigeonhole app, one stave per day over 10 days, commenting along with other readers. This is an unusual book as it is told through memories as part of a ‘shared death experience’. It certainly got me thinking. The story is beautifully told through past events and it is captivating and emotional. It made me think about how we look back at events and experiences and think ‘what if…’ and ‘if only’. I really enjoyed it!
September 4, 2024
I was hooked from the very first chapter of this book when Jenn and Robbie were in a car having just got back together after 8 months apart. What was it Jenn needed to tell Robbie just before the car crashed? Why had they split up when they seemed so right for each other? And where had Jenn been in the intervening time?
Well, what followed that first chapter was a compelling and very cleverly written story weaving back and forward through time showing us so many significant points in Jenn's life and their life as a couple. The thing that makes this book a bit different is that rather than this being Jenn's life flashing before her eyes, it is Jenn's life through Robbie's eyes. In this way, Robbie finds out things he didn't know about Jenn from her earlier life but he also sees himself in a way he hadn't before and he doesn't like himself much. There's a bit of a mystical element to the book and I can see why it's been compared to The Time Traveller's Wife.
I've also seen many reviews saying that if you love One Day you'll also love this book and I would imagine you would. It's got that fabulous Edinburgh setting and an epic love story between two people who seem destined to be together despite all life throws at them.
This is a very impressive debut from Emma Steele. The Echoes of Us is intricately plotted and Emma's writing kept me glued to the pages right up the the heart-stopping climax when we finally find out just what Jenn's secret was. Obviously I'm not going to tell you that though, you'll need to buy the book to find out for yourself!
Well, what followed that first chapter was a compelling and very cleverly written story weaving back and forward through time showing us so many significant points in Jenn's life and their life as a couple. The thing that makes this book a bit different is that rather than this being Jenn's life flashing before her eyes, it is Jenn's life through Robbie's eyes. In this way, Robbie finds out things he didn't know about Jenn from her earlier life but he also sees himself in a way he hadn't before and he doesn't like himself much. There's a bit of a mystical element to the book and I can see why it's been compared to The Time Traveller's Wife.
I've also seen many reviews saying that if you love One Day you'll also love this book and I would imagine you would. It's got that fabulous Edinburgh setting and an epic love story between two people who seem destined to be together despite all life throws at them.
This is a very impressive debut from Emma Steele. The Echoes of Us is intricately plotted and Emma's writing kept me glued to the pages right up the the heart-stopping climax when we finally find out just what Jenn's secret was. Obviously I'm not going to tell you that though, you'll need to buy the book to find out for yourself!
June 12, 2024
A beautiful and heart wrenching story of love that is anything but smooth. Robbie loves Jenn, but he is selfish and thoughtless and cannot understand why she left him. When they reconcile at a wedding, they find themselves in a car hurtling towards a large truck. Robbie finds himself frozen in that moment and then propelled back into flashpoints in Jenns life. He desperately attempts to glean information from each of these moments that might help change the moment of impending impact into survival. Robbie learns so much about Jenn, about himself and about their relationship each time, and about how to truly live in every moment in order to experience life to the fullest. Love doesn't need to be perfect, people don't need to be perfect, but they do require effort. An impactful story. #theechoesofus #emmasteele #thepigeonholehq #netgalley
June 6, 2024
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.
Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 4*
Pace: 3*
Characters: 4*
I was torn whether this was a 3* or a 4* and right up until the last 10% I was more swaying towards 3. The timelines were a bit weird for me, I wasn't sure the jumping around was necessary, couldn't we just see it in chronological order? But since finishing I understand why the author did it the way she did. Its a hard story to review without spoilers, but the character progression in this book was phenomenal. Robbie grated on me the whole way, until the very end, but when a character comes full circle praise is needed.
I would say this will be a massive hit for fans of One Day. Bring tissues.
Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 4*
Pace: 3*
Characters: 4*
I was torn whether this was a 3* or a 4* and right up until the last 10% I was more swaying towards 3. The timelines were a bit weird for me, I wasn't sure the jumping around was necessary, couldn't we just see it in chronological order? But since finishing I understand why the author did it the way she did. Its a hard story to review without spoilers, but the character progression in this book was phenomenal. Robbie grated on me the whole way, until the very end, but when a character comes full circle praise is needed.
I would say this will be a massive hit for fans of One Day. Bring tissues.
June 7, 2023
Jelly Beans
Zum Inhalt:
Robbie und Jenn sitzen zusammen im Auto und befinden sich auf dem Heimweg, als sich ihnen plötzlich helle Lichtstrahlen rasant nähern. Im nächsten Moment findet sich Robbie in vergangenen Situationen aus Jenns Leben wieder und versucht herauszufinden, was das zu bedeuten hat und wie er in die Realität zurückfinden kann.
Mein Eindruck:
Bei dem Buch “Die Sekunde zwischen dir und mir“ von Emma Steele handelt es sich um ein Rezensionsexemplar. Ich bewarb mich dafür, weil es mich vermuten ließ, eine komplett neue Art von Liebegeschichte darin zu finden.
Die ersten Kapitel machten mir den Einstieg nicht besonders leicht. Die Charaktere wurden knapp vorgestellt und im nächsten Moment befand ich mich schon in der Vergangenheit. Damit fühlte ich mich überrumpelt und es erschwerte mir den Zugang zum Buch.
Es war mir nicht sofort möglich, mit den Charakteren mitzufühlen oder um sie zu bangen. Aber auch die Zeitsprünge irritierten mich zu Beginn, weil die Handlungszeit in äußerst kurzen Abständen wechselte und sich Robbies Verwirrung auf mich übertrug. Doch dieses Gefühl legte sich ab ca. einem Drittel des Buches.
Da die Handlung größtenteils in Jenns Erinnerungen spielt, erfährt man relativ wenig über Robbies Leben. Als Leser lernen wir also zuerst Jenn kennen und danach zeigt sich Robbies wahres Wesen. Aus diesem Grund fand ich ihn vermutlich auch interessanter als sie. Seine charakterliche Entwicklung über die Handlung hinweg war einprägsamer und im Endeffekt auch das für ihn vorgesehene Ziel.
Beide Figuren waren bis ins kleinste Detail durchdacht und ihre Verhaltensweisen absolut nachvollziehbar, basierend auf unseren Kenntnissen. Ihre Beziehung wurde wirklich authentisch dargestellt und könnte auf diese Art zweifelsohne in Realität existieren. Das hat mir sehr gefallen, weil Emma Steele dadurch keine Bilderbuchvorstellung von Liebe vertritt und somit hervorsticht.
Den Schreibstil empfand ich ab den ersten Seiten als sehr atmosphärisch. Emma Steele hat ein Händchen für feine Details und nimmt sich genug Zeit und Worte, um ihre Szenerie bildlich vor den Augen der Leser entstehen zu lassen. Wenn ich es wollte, konnte ich durch die Seiten fliegen, doch aufgrund der Thematik brauchte ich ab und an eine kleine Pause.
Der Hintergrund des Handlungsthemas neben der Liebe war für mich extrem faszinierend. Ich wusste nicht, dass es dieses Phänomen gibt und möchte mich diesbezüglich definitiv weiter belesen. Zu Beginn des Buches hatte ich nicht damit gerechnet, mit so vielen neuen Erkenntnissen aus diesem herauszugehen. Wow. [für diejenigen, die gerne mehr über die Thematik wissen wollen, habe ich einen nahezu spoilerfreien separaten Abschnitt unter das Zitat gesetzt]
Leider empfand ich das Buch phasenweise als ziemlich langatmig, was mir die Spannung ein wenig nahm. Den Plot zum Schluss hatte ich befürchtet und kommen sehen, dennoch trafen die Ereignisse der letzten Kapitel ins Schwarze und die ganzen Emotionen brachen auf mich ein.
Alles in allem finde ich das Buch ausgesprochen faszinierend und erfrischend anders. Es ist extrem emotional, tragisch, trotz der Thematik humorvoll und bietet eine rührend schöne Liebesgeschichte.
Dennoch lege ich euch nah, vorher gut zu überlegen, ob ihr das Buch lesen wollt, denn es hat mein Herz definitiv gebrochen und wird mich noch eine Weile beschäftigen. “Die Sekunde zwischen dir und mir“ von Emma Steele ist ein Buch, das seine Leser noch eine Zeit lang begleiten wird.
„VIELLEICHT IST NICHT JEDE ART VON LIEBE
DAZU BESTIMMT, EWIG ZU HALTEN.“
– JENN
Der folgende Abschnitt über die Thematik könnte Spoiler für das Buch enthalten. Wenn du diese vermeiden möchtest, kehre bitte zur Rezension zurück.
Das Grundthema des Buches basiert auf einem medizinischen Phänomen – der sogenannten “geteilten Todeserfahrung“. Robbie ist demnach Jenns Begleiter ins Jenseits. Er beobachtet, wie sie sich an wichtige Abschnitte ihres Lebens erinnert und kann zunehmend Einfluss auf diese nehmen, bis sie an den letzten Punkt angelangen – dem Abschied. Dieses Phänomen kann unabhängig von räumlicher Distanz auftreten und begrenzt sich auf extrem nahestehende Personen. In den meisten Fällen stirbt die Person, dessen Erinnerungen geteilt werden am Ende, doch es gibt auch Ausnahmen.
Zum Inhalt:
Robbie und Jenn sitzen zusammen im Auto und befinden sich auf dem Heimweg, als sich ihnen plötzlich helle Lichtstrahlen rasant nähern. Im nächsten Moment findet sich Robbie in vergangenen Situationen aus Jenns Leben wieder und versucht herauszufinden, was das zu bedeuten hat und wie er in die Realität zurückfinden kann.
Mein Eindruck:
Bei dem Buch “Die Sekunde zwischen dir und mir“ von Emma Steele handelt es sich um ein Rezensionsexemplar. Ich bewarb mich dafür, weil es mich vermuten ließ, eine komplett neue Art von Liebegeschichte darin zu finden.
Die ersten Kapitel machten mir den Einstieg nicht besonders leicht. Die Charaktere wurden knapp vorgestellt und im nächsten Moment befand ich mich schon in der Vergangenheit. Damit fühlte ich mich überrumpelt und es erschwerte mir den Zugang zum Buch.
Es war mir nicht sofort möglich, mit den Charakteren mitzufühlen oder um sie zu bangen. Aber auch die Zeitsprünge irritierten mich zu Beginn, weil die Handlungszeit in äußerst kurzen Abständen wechselte und sich Robbies Verwirrung auf mich übertrug. Doch dieses Gefühl legte sich ab ca. einem Drittel des Buches.
Da die Handlung größtenteils in Jenns Erinnerungen spielt, erfährt man relativ wenig über Robbies Leben. Als Leser lernen wir also zuerst Jenn kennen und danach zeigt sich Robbies wahres Wesen. Aus diesem Grund fand ich ihn vermutlich auch interessanter als sie. Seine charakterliche Entwicklung über die Handlung hinweg war einprägsamer und im Endeffekt auch das für ihn vorgesehene Ziel.
Beide Figuren waren bis ins kleinste Detail durchdacht und ihre Verhaltensweisen absolut nachvollziehbar, basierend auf unseren Kenntnissen. Ihre Beziehung wurde wirklich authentisch dargestellt und könnte auf diese Art zweifelsohne in Realität existieren. Das hat mir sehr gefallen, weil Emma Steele dadurch keine Bilderbuchvorstellung von Liebe vertritt und somit hervorsticht.
Den Schreibstil empfand ich ab den ersten Seiten als sehr atmosphärisch. Emma Steele hat ein Händchen für feine Details und nimmt sich genug Zeit und Worte, um ihre Szenerie bildlich vor den Augen der Leser entstehen zu lassen. Wenn ich es wollte, konnte ich durch die Seiten fliegen, doch aufgrund der Thematik brauchte ich ab und an eine kleine Pause.
Der Hintergrund des Handlungsthemas neben der Liebe war für mich extrem faszinierend. Ich wusste nicht, dass es dieses Phänomen gibt und möchte mich diesbezüglich definitiv weiter belesen. Zu Beginn des Buches hatte ich nicht damit gerechnet, mit so vielen neuen Erkenntnissen aus diesem herauszugehen. Wow. [für diejenigen, die gerne mehr über die Thematik wissen wollen, habe ich einen nahezu spoilerfreien separaten Abschnitt unter das Zitat gesetzt]
Leider empfand ich das Buch phasenweise als ziemlich langatmig, was mir die Spannung ein wenig nahm. Den Plot zum Schluss hatte ich befürchtet und kommen sehen, dennoch trafen die Ereignisse der letzten Kapitel ins Schwarze und die ganzen Emotionen brachen auf mich ein.
Alles in allem finde ich das Buch ausgesprochen faszinierend und erfrischend anders. Es ist extrem emotional, tragisch, trotz der Thematik humorvoll und bietet eine rührend schöne Liebesgeschichte.
Dennoch lege ich euch nah, vorher gut zu überlegen, ob ihr das Buch lesen wollt, denn es hat mein Herz definitiv gebrochen und wird mich noch eine Weile beschäftigen. “Die Sekunde zwischen dir und mir“ von Emma Steele ist ein Buch, das seine Leser noch eine Zeit lang begleiten wird.
„VIELLEICHT IST NICHT JEDE ART VON LIEBE
DAZU BESTIMMT, EWIG ZU HALTEN.“
– JENN
Der folgende Abschnitt über die Thematik könnte Spoiler für das Buch enthalten. Wenn du diese vermeiden möchtest, kehre bitte zur Rezension zurück.
Das Grundthema des Buches basiert auf einem medizinischen Phänomen – der sogenannten “geteilten Todeserfahrung“. Robbie ist demnach Jenns Begleiter ins Jenseits. Er beobachtet, wie sie sich an wichtige Abschnitte ihres Lebens erinnert und kann zunehmend Einfluss auf diese nehmen, bis sie an den letzten Punkt angelangen – dem Abschied. Dieses Phänomen kann unabhängig von räumlicher Distanz auftreten und begrenzt sich auf extrem nahestehende Personen. In den meisten Fällen stirbt die Person, dessen Erinnerungen geteilt werden am Ende, doch es gibt auch Ausnahmen.
March 25, 2024
The Echoes of Us by Emma Steele is a beautifully written page turner that captures the evolution of a relationship using a unique and thought provoking narrative.
After 8 months apart Jenn and Robbie have found their way back to each other. The evening after their reunion, they are in the car together, thinking about their future - a future which could be taken away from them when they find themselves in the path of a truck. In this moment Jenn’s life starts flashing before her eyes, and it’s not just her that can see it.
Robbie finds himself jumping through Jenn’s memories, some are from her childhood others are from their time together and then their subsequent break up. Through these memories the author tells us a glorious story of love, family, friendship, growing up, heartbreak and healing.
The Echoes of Us is definitely one to read, it is a cleverly layered novel that answers one question then creates another on the following page - in a very pleasing way. Even when you think it’s all wrapped up, the author surprises you with more of her gratifying turns that make this book so readable. It will leave you broken but also hopeful.
I loved this book and will be recommending it to anyone who listens.
Thank-you NetGalley and Headline books for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.
After 8 months apart Jenn and Robbie have found their way back to each other. The evening after their reunion, they are in the car together, thinking about their future - a future which could be taken away from them when they find themselves in the path of a truck. In this moment Jenn’s life starts flashing before her eyes, and it’s not just her that can see it.
Robbie finds himself jumping through Jenn’s memories, some are from her childhood others are from their time together and then their subsequent break up. Through these memories the author tells us a glorious story of love, family, friendship, growing up, heartbreak and healing.
The Echoes of Us is definitely one to read, it is a cleverly layered novel that answers one question then creates another on the following page - in a very pleasing way. Even when you think it’s all wrapped up, the author surprises you with more of her gratifying turns that make this book so readable. It will leave you broken but also hopeful.
I loved this book and will be recommending it to anyone who listens.
Thank-you NetGalley and Headline books for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.
August 31, 2025
I found this quite hard to get into to begin with bc it felt like it was lurching around with no flow and it was confusing, but eventually I got into it and i did end up enjoying it. I did think the ending was pretty predictable tho, but that’s okay
November 15, 2025
"...uneori, lucrurile pur și simplu nu merg, iar oamenii o iau în direcții diferite."
"Scunda dintre noi" spune povestea lui Jenn și a lui Robbie, un cuplu care, după cinci ani împreună, se destramă brusc atunci când Jenn pleacă fără nicio explicație. După opt luni, cei doi încearcă să își ofere o a doua șansă, dar un accident de mașină schimbă totul. Din acel moment, Robbie începe să vadă fragmente din trecutul lui Jen, din copilăria și adolescența ei, din perioada facultății, dar și momentul în care cei doi s-au întâlnit pentru prima dată. Deși nu înțelege ce se întâmplă la început, Robbie își dă seama că trebuie să afle o informație despre Jen care ar putea să le salveze viețile.
Relația dintre Jenn și Robbie a avut parte de un început ca-n povești, dar care a devenit din ce în ce mai dezechilibrată: Jen era preocupată de cariera ei, în timp ce Robbie continua să se comporte precum un adolescent rebel fără să țină cont de părerile și sentimentele celor din jur.
Mi-a plăcut ideea de a descoperi povestea prin intermediul amintirilor lui Jen, însă tranzițiile dese și bruște au creat destul de multă confuzie și m-au pierdut uneori încercând să înțeleg în ce an mă aflam și cu care versiune a lui Jen mă voi întâlni.
Secretul care planează asupra celor doi este menționat frecvent, dar fără indicii clare, devenind puțin frustrant, dar menținându-mi interesul până la final.
"Scunda dintre noi" spune povestea lui Jenn și a lui Robbie, un cuplu care, după cinci ani împreună, se destramă brusc atunci când Jenn pleacă fără nicio explicație. După opt luni, cei doi încearcă să își ofere o a doua șansă, dar un accident de mașină schimbă totul. Din acel moment, Robbie începe să vadă fragmente din trecutul lui Jen, din copilăria și adolescența ei, din perioada facultății, dar și momentul în care cei doi s-au întâlnit pentru prima dată. Deși nu înțelege ce se întâmplă la început, Robbie își dă seama că trebuie să afle o informație despre Jen care ar putea să le salveze viețile.
Relația dintre Jenn și Robbie a avut parte de un început ca-n povești, dar care a devenit din ce în ce mai dezechilibrată: Jen era preocupată de cariera ei, în timp ce Robbie continua să se comporte precum un adolescent rebel fără să țină cont de părerile și sentimentele celor din jur.
Mi-a plăcut ideea de a descoperi povestea prin intermediul amintirilor lui Jen, însă tranzițiile dese și bruște au creat destul de multă confuzie și m-au pierdut uneori încercând să înțeleg în ce an mă aflam și cu care versiune a lui Jen mă voi întâlni.
Secretul care planează asupra celor doi este menționat frecvent, dar fără indicii clare, devenind puțin frustrant, dar menținându-mi interesul până la final.
December 18, 2025
Once I got my head round the jumps in time, I loved it. The end broke my heart, may have had a tear or two
August 4, 2024
A great story and debut book by Emma Steele. Recommended by a friend SP, I was not disappointed with the plot. The ‘secret’ is the thread and runs throughout. I found the story telling by the characters great, but thought it jumped about in years too much.
Will make a great film and keeps you on tender hooks…to the very end…reflective and another can we change the past story…can we?
Will make a great film and keeps you on tender hooks…to the very end…reflective and another can we change the past story…can we?
July 17, 2024
Loved the Edinburgh references, the frankness of how relationships can fail or succeed and the ending was sweet - I shed a tear or two reading this book. A lovely holiday read.
April 19, 2025
Three and a half stars.
Robbie and Jenn had been an item for several years, then they broke up for eight months. They have just got back together and are on their way home from the hospital where Jenn works as a doctor when they are in a head-on collision with a truck.
When Robbie comes to, he finds himself watching Jenn as a young girl. As he is swept at random through various key moments in her life he begins to suspect that he is somehow seeing 'her life flash before her eyes' and the key to saving her rests with getting her to wake up before its too late. However, as Robbie sees his behaviour through the eyes of a spectator he realises he may not have been the best boyfriend, can he save Jenn and prove that he can be the boyfriend she deserves?
I liked the writing in this but I found it very hard to see why Jenn loved Robbie because he was just so unlikeable and because the flashbacks zoomed around (and I didn't really pay any attention to the years) I didn't really get invested in either character. Frankly I was more invested in Fi and Max or Marty and Hils and their stories.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Robbie and Jenn had been an item for several years, then they broke up for eight months. They have just got back together and are on their way home from the hospital where Jenn works as a doctor when they are in a head-on collision with a truck.
When Robbie comes to, he finds himself watching Jenn as a young girl. As he is swept at random through various key moments in her life he begins to suspect that he is somehow seeing 'her life flash before her eyes' and the key to saving her rests with getting her to wake up before its too late. However, as Robbie sees his behaviour through the eyes of a spectator he realises he may not have been the best boyfriend, can he save Jenn and prove that he can be the boyfriend she deserves?
I liked the writing in this but I found it very hard to see why Jenn loved Robbie because he was just so unlikeable and because the flashbacks zoomed around (and I didn't really pay any attention to the years) I didn't really get invested in either character. Frankly I was more invested in Fi and Max or Marty and Hils and their stories.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
April 8, 2025
It has been ages since I've read a book in just a couple of days but last weekend I absolutely sped through The Echoes of Us by Emma Steele and I loved it!
I loved the concept of this. As a serious traffic accident is about to take place, time seems to stand still and instead of Rob's life flashing before his eyes, he finds it is Jen's life that he is seeing instead. He sees events in Jen's life he has never seen before, including her childhood in which she struggled after her beloved dad left and before he met her. He sees his faults through Jen's eyes, and can see why Jen wasn't happy and finally finds out why she left him. She has a secret and he is convinced that when he finds out what it is, he will be able to save Jen.
A clever book, which was very readable, it was both romantic and sad.
I loved the concept of this. As a serious traffic accident is about to take place, time seems to stand still and instead of Rob's life flashing before his eyes, he finds it is Jen's life that he is seeing instead. He sees events in Jen's life he has never seen before, including her childhood in which she struggled after her beloved dad left and before he met her. He sees his faults through Jen's eyes, and can see why Jen wasn't happy and finally finds out why she left him. She has a secret and he is convinced that when he finds out what it is, he will be able to save Jen.
A clever book, which was very readable, it was both romantic and sad.
November 19, 2025
The Echoes of Us
I think Steele suffers from a lot of telling us what should merely be shown, lots of blunt directions to how characters think and feel towards certain things that would immerse the reader more in the text if they were to discover them through subtext. Take the passage in the hospital, for example. Just a few lines in we are told that Robbie hates hospitals. THAT’S OBVIOUS. The vast majority of the time hospitals are used as a set-piece in fiction, across all manners of media, it is a negative thing; the pov character doesn’t want to be there. Furthermore, the majority of the time we go to hospitals in our normal lives, we also don’t want to be there. This means that there is a prevalent, pre-existing emotional basis for how readers expect a character to think and feel about their presence in a hospital due to the many sociofictional contextual associations between hospitals and negative moods and experiences. We expect Robbie, or whoever the pov ch is at the time, to not want to be there. So, when you say ‘x doesn’t want to be here’, you show the reader that you don’t trust them, that you are infantalising your narrative, limiting your literary register and thus figurative and creative potential because of a lack of faith in your readers’ abilities to infer a character’s mood from their description of their surroundings. But this is so easy to fix. With a first-person perspective, the narrative is inherently unreliable due to the natural biases that arrive from personal description. We see what Jenn and Robbie see, we perceive how they feel, and so everything we know is tilted towards how they feel about what they see and know. Therefore, YOU CAN TELL US THAT X DOESN’T WANT TO BE THERE BY DESCRIBING THE HOSPITAL NEGATIVELY. Have x describe the itchy smells that creep their way up her nose, the high-pitched squeaking of leather shoes on dimly lit hallways, the echoes of coughing arising intermittently from the corners of the room, the dark circles under the eyes of every grisled, unshaven nurse hidden beneath a pile of aged scrubs.
I want to feel the world that these characters live in, not be spoon-fed a rudimentary representation of their general attitude towards general concepts.
SHOW. DON’T. TELL.
-Fairly repetitive writing style → dramatic simple sentences that re-emphasise an already-established point
-Not much figurative language use
-Some dialogue passages could be made more realistic
-Katy’s use of French feels very ‘postcard’
-The beach group in Colombia say ‘how do you say’ → feels very archetypal of bilingual individuals instead of unique or grounded
-When Jenn’s mum tells Jenn abt the money her dad left → v short convo, not many details given, feels like a dramatic conclusion of ‘he did care for us after all’ is drawn from a fairly minimal information reveal → ‘he left us money’ does not equal ‘he loved us all along’ → tenuous.
-I love the brief passage of when Robbie finally swings the car to the side → that’s exactly how it should have been done, so that we can really feel the impact. This drawn out love story, the ticking of time running out punctuated by a frantic wrench of a steering wheel —> perfecto
-I love the breakdown at the end where Robbie and Jenn hold each other crying, and the fact that it cuts off → they get a meaningful moment
-Swapping POVs is so important to wrenching that feeling out of the audience of pure empathy, of genuine, raw understanding for how much they love each other.
-True love cannot exist when diametrically opposing apathy → it must be reciprocated to the extent that both parties cannot believe their luck, to the point of lunacy at the hands of one another. Only by observing this lunacy from both perspectives, with all their idiosyncrasies and past experiences, can we understand just how much Robbie and Jenn mean to each other, just how worthy that love is of preserving
-As the story goes on, the understanding of how these two fit into each others lives becomes so much clearer, because no matter what difficulties we see them go through, eg Jenn’s dad leaving, or her breakup with Duncan, or Robbie’s slip into alcoholism, we know they’re going to find and, for the most part, fix, each other. Their lives build up to one another, and so when the narrative builds up to that final day after the wedding, it feels far less like a dramatic conclusion of their love story, but the rightful continuation of the emotions that have been laid out before us. This should not be their end.
-The image of Jenn watching Robbie’s speech is so raw → the superlative moment of their love. All it takes is a rich image of someone looking at someone they love, with a sense of occasion around them, to make all those pages of love story feel real. A lifetime of love can be told with a single look.
-Trauma & mistreatment is circular
-Robbie’s drinking & Jenn’s dad’s drinking
-Jenn leaves Robbie in the same way her dad left her
-Jenn’s mum leaves her in a similar way to how her dad left her
-Steele’s character work is fantastic, they’re all very grounded, believable characters with their own nuances and difficulties and impacts on one another
-I would have liked a slightly deeper dive into these nuances at moments though
-Characters like Fi had their stories left somewhat open → ‘they’re splitting up’, ok, good, but give her a moment, please, where she and Robbie truly talk to one another.
-Also Robbie’s dad → I think should have a more substantial role in his mind
-Maybe that’s the point → Robbie ran out of time and so was unable to do anything with his final moments but realise the errors of his ways with Jenn
-I think Robbie needed to reconcile properly with Marty asw, for leaving him to die on a holiday, for caring more abt his own shit w Jenn than the wedding
I think Steele suffers from a lot of telling us what should merely be shown, lots of blunt directions to how characters think and feel towards certain things that would immerse the reader more in the text if they were to discover them through subtext. Take the passage in the hospital, for example. Just a few lines in we are told that Robbie hates hospitals. THAT’S OBVIOUS. The vast majority of the time hospitals are used as a set-piece in fiction, across all manners of media, it is a negative thing; the pov character doesn’t want to be there. Furthermore, the majority of the time we go to hospitals in our normal lives, we also don’t want to be there. This means that there is a prevalent, pre-existing emotional basis for how readers expect a character to think and feel about their presence in a hospital due to the many sociofictional contextual associations between hospitals and negative moods and experiences. We expect Robbie, or whoever the pov ch is at the time, to not want to be there. So, when you say ‘x doesn’t want to be here’, you show the reader that you don’t trust them, that you are infantalising your narrative, limiting your literary register and thus figurative and creative potential because of a lack of faith in your readers’ abilities to infer a character’s mood from their description of their surroundings. But this is so easy to fix. With a first-person perspective, the narrative is inherently unreliable due to the natural biases that arrive from personal description. We see what Jenn and Robbie see, we perceive how they feel, and so everything we know is tilted towards how they feel about what they see and know. Therefore, YOU CAN TELL US THAT X DOESN’T WANT TO BE THERE BY DESCRIBING THE HOSPITAL NEGATIVELY. Have x describe the itchy smells that creep their way up her nose, the high-pitched squeaking of leather shoes on dimly lit hallways, the echoes of coughing arising intermittently from the corners of the room, the dark circles under the eyes of every grisled, unshaven nurse hidden beneath a pile of aged scrubs.
I want to feel the world that these characters live in, not be spoon-fed a rudimentary representation of their general attitude towards general concepts.
SHOW. DON’T. TELL.
-Fairly repetitive writing style → dramatic simple sentences that re-emphasise an already-established point
-Not much figurative language use
-Some dialogue passages could be made more realistic
-Katy’s use of French feels very ‘postcard’
-The beach group in Colombia say ‘how do you say’ → feels very archetypal of bilingual individuals instead of unique or grounded
-When Jenn’s mum tells Jenn abt the money her dad left → v short convo, not many details given, feels like a dramatic conclusion of ‘he did care for us after all’ is drawn from a fairly minimal information reveal → ‘he left us money’ does not equal ‘he loved us all along’ → tenuous.
-I love the brief passage of when Robbie finally swings the car to the side → that’s exactly how it should have been done, so that we can really feel the impact. This drawn out love story, the ticking of time running out punctuated by a frantic wrench of a steering wheel —> perfecto
-I love the breakdown at the end where Robbie and Jenn hold each other crying, and the fact that it cuts off → they get a meaningful moment
-Swapping POVs is so important to wrenching that feeling out of the audience of pure empathy, of genuine, raw understanding for how much they love each other.
-True love cannot exist when diametrically opposing apathy → it must be reciprocated to the extent that both parties cannot believe their luck, to the point of lunacy at the hands of one another. Only by observing this lunacy from both perspectives, with all their idiosyncrasies and past experiences, can we understand just how much Robbie and Jenn mean to each other, just how worthy that love is of preserving
-As the story goes on, the understanding of how these two fit into each others lives becomes so much clearer, because no matter what difficulties we see them go through, eg Jenn’s dad leaving, or her breakup with Duncan, or Robbie’s slip into alcoholism, we know they’re going to find and, for the most part, fix, each other. Their lives build up to one another, and so when the narrative builds up to that final day after the wedding, it feels far less like a dramatic conclusion of their love story, but the rightful continuation of the emotions that have been laid out before us. This should not be their end.
-The image of Jenn watching Robbie’s speech is so raw → the superlative moment of their love. All it takes is a rich image of someone looking at someone they love, with a sense of occasion around them, to make all those pages of love story feel real. A lifetime of love can be told with a single look.
-Trauma & mistreatment is circular
-Robbie’s drinking & Jenn’s dad’s drinking
-Jenn leaves Robbie in the same way her dad left her
-Jenn’s mum leaves her in a similar way to how her dad left her
-Steele’s character work is fantastic, they’re all very grounded, believable characters with their own nuances and difficulties and impacts on one another
-I would have liked a slightly deeper dive into these nuances at moments though
-Characters like Fi had their stories left somewhat open → ‘they’re splitting up’, ok, good, but give her a moment, please, where she and Robbie truly talk to one another.
-Also Robbie’s dad → I think should have a more substantial role in his mind
-Maybe that’s the point → Robbie ran out of time and so was unable to do anything with his final moments but realise the errors of his ways with Jenn
-I think Robbie needed to reconcile properly with Marty asw, for leaving him to die on a holiday, for caring more abt his own shit w Jenn than the wedding
July 2, 2025
This is a debut novel and I think it was good. I found the timeline confusing as it jumped back and forth a lot. And was a bit confused at the ending but overall I was invested and wanted good things for Jenny and Robbie. I loved their friendship and relationship. I look forward to Emma’s next book.
May 7, 2023
3,5 ⭐
Ich hatte das Gefühl ich kann sehr gut mit den Charakteren mitfühlen. Das Buch hat sich zwischendrin ganz schön gezogen, ob da jetzt so viel von nötig gewesen wäre weiß ich nicht. Aber ich mochte Robbies Wandlung sehr. Das Ende fand ich auch top!
Ich hatte das Gefühl ich kann sehr gut mit den Charakteren mitfühlen. Das Buch hat sich zwischendrin ganz schön gezogen, ob da jetzt so viel von nötig gewesen wäre weiß ich nicht. Aber ich mochte Robbies Wandlung sehr. Das Ende fand ich auch top!
August 25, 2024
3,5 ⭐️
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